Research Initiatives
Research Initiatives at the L+S Lab are made possible through sponsorships, donations or direct funding of innovative ideas delivered through applied research projects. As scholars and innovators, we build on the contributions of those who came before us, and the generosity of our sponsors and collaborators extends this tradition. Every gift or investment in the Live+Smart Lab positively impacts our researchers, students, school, and our greatest innovations. We welcome your contribution.
City of Greater Geelong as an Urban Forest
Proposing a reforestation of the Geelong LGA, this research initiative investigates the potential impact of increasing forestation to 20%, 50% and 90% to create an urban forest. Open areas or cleared areas such as land without buildings, roads and water bodies were considered with the target of 500 trees per hectare (based on the Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) benchmark). Taking the current tree coverage (approx.. 5 million trees) and increasing it to 90% (approx. 52 million trees), this research initiative investigates the positive impacts of reforestation on air temperature, storm-water runoff, mitigation of UHI impacts and other quality of life benefits that come from a reconnection with nature.
Biophilic design and the natural senses
Identifying human sensory responses to nature, this research initiative investigates which qualities and perceived sensory dimensions (PSD) of the natural environment are psychologically restorative. The aim is to use the findings as informants to biophilic design considerations, as well as potential applications to restorative design and evidence-based design (EBD) for health-care facilities.
Biophilic design to support mental health in lock-down
This research initiative is a collaboration between the Live+Smart Research Lab and the School of Psychology to investigate mental health and wellbeing at home-workspaces. This research initiative looks at how working from home in isolation can contribute to mental-ill health. Understanding how a home office work space contributes to mental wellbeing extends beyond the current pandemic and the research will include on identifying how better biophilic designed spaces can potentially prepare us for continuing changes in future work habits.
Maintain emergency services levels of functioning in a pandemic
Researchers at the Live+Smart Lab in collaboration with industry partner Deccan International are investigating case studies across the world to identify the main issues experienced by emergency services during a pandemic, and how to maintain efficient levels of emergency services response when staffing resources and equipment may need to be reduced or consolidated.